OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
( continued from page 15 ) Their impact was enormous , and their activities extended to civil rights , education reform and publishing an advocacy newspaper .
Henry died in 1902 . The school weakened , and it merged with Simmons College of Kentucky in 1912 , with no further medical graduates . However , the hospital continued its vital services . Under Sarah ’ s management , it was cited by Abraham Flexner in his landmark report , as one of the nation ’ s best . Sarah ultimately retired , moved to join family in Chicago , and died in 1922 . The Fitzbutler legacy of overcoming great obstacles to bring health and justice to Louisville and beyond was spectacular .
Dr . Martin Luther King , Jr . eloquently proclaimed , “ We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long , but it bends toward justice .” Justice in medical education and professional leadership since the time of the Fitzbutlers has been painfully slow , and remains incomplete , but it has bent toward justice . Examples can be found in The May issue of Louisville Medicine ( 2023 ; vol . 70 , no . 12 ), which displays great diversity . It contains articles from Kentucky Medical Association President , Dr . Monalisa Tailor , from Greater Louisville Medical Society President , Dr . Valerie Briones-Prior , an essay condemning Kentucky anti-transgender law , and a slate of elected officers and committee members that is truly diverse , including incoming 2023-24 President Patricia Purcell , MD , and President-elect Lewis Hargett , MD . It also includes pictures of Toni Ganzel , MD , the first woman Dean of the University of Louisville School of Medicine , alongside UofL President , Kim Schatzel , PhD , as they celebrated residency matching of a diverse senior class . No
20th century medical society publication ever displayed anywhere near that extent of diversity . At the UofL School of Medicine , Dean Ganzel has achieved substantial progress in Diversity , Equity and Inclusion ( DEI ), a most welcome step forward .
Unfortunately , obstacles to justice in education , including medical schools , are emerging once again . 3 This year , Florida and Texas have each passed laws defunding and closing DEI programs in their state ’ s education institutions , and their respective governors are derisively vilifying DEI . Thus , hard-fought progress is lost , and the moral arc bends away from justice for perceived political gain . 3
One must recognize that the moral arc of justice is not pre-determined and does not bend itself . It requires visionary , committed “ moral blacksmiths ” to bend it justly . The Doctors Fitzbutler were such persons , and their legacy stands as great inspiration to all who share their goals of a just nation .
References :
1
Weiss MM . History of Louisville National Medical College and the Red Cross Hospital : African-American Medicine in Louisville , Kentucky , 1872 to 1976 , Part 3 . Louisville Med 2013 ; 60 ( 11 ): 14-16 .
2
Tobin GR . William Henry Fitzbutler ( 1842 -1901 ) and Sarah McCurdy Fitzbutler ( 1847-1922 ). J KY Med Assoc , 2018 ; 116:25 .
3 https :// www . npr . org / 2023 / 05 / 15 / 1176210007 / florida-ron-desantis-dei-ban-diversity
Dr . Tobin is a professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine , Department of Surgery , Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery . He practices with UofL Physicians – Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery .
16 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE